Tuning peg for stringed musical instruments



May 15, 1928. 1,669,823

A. D. GROVER TUNING PEG FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 16, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F'Tg. Z-

FY5115. F g- INVEIN TI R Z May 15, 1928. I 1,669,823

' A. D. G ROVER TUNING PEG FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 16, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7, 'Jmy.

Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES ALBERT I). GROVER, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK.

TUNING PEG FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed February 16, 1923. Serial No. 619,371.

My invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instruments and more particularly to tuning pegs therefor, of the type in which parts are drovided with tapered friction surfaces which adjust themselves axially in the peg head of the instrument to hold the pegs from rotating under the strain of the tensioned strings.

The principal object of the invention is to providea simply constructed and efficiently operated device of this character which is applicable to the various types of stringed instruments and which will firmly hold the tension of a string at any pitch.

Among the generally accepted means used for operating a. tuning peg in connection with metal strings requiring very delicate adjustment, is the worm and gear construc tion in which the worm is revolved, turning the gear and locking the latter in any position. in this construction the string stud is attached to the gear while the thumb button is attached to the '\\'oi'n1 lilie ratio of movement between'the two members being sub stantially 1 to 8. Consequently the adjustment of the string stud is very slow in its action, and considerable time and a great iunnber of revolutions of the thumb button are required to effect an adjustment of the strin to pitch. In order to overcome this objectionable featurethe present invention contpinplates the use of a train of gears coin prising a pinion and a gear, the former being capable of being locked against movement by the frictional engagement of the tapered parts of the peg with a relatively fixed element of the instrument, thereby locking the gear supporting the string stud in any adjusted position.- The gear ratio in the pres ent arrangementmay be widely varied to meet the requirements of any type of stringed instrumentor variety of string.

Several forms of the invention are illustrated in each'of which thepeg shank is provided with a tapered surface to operate axially thereof and effect a frictional engagement with the peg head of the instrument. and in which the peg is further provided with a cup shaped frictional member embracing the shank and adapted to impinge upon the peg head to hold the tapered surface of the shack in contact with the peg head.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein several forms of the invention are illustratively exemplified, Figure 1 is a substantially longitudinal sectional view of a peg embodymg my improved conically shaped end construction of the cup member and string stud; Figure :2 is a similar view of the same showmg the tapered portion of the cup disposed at a greater inclination and imbedded to its full length in the neck piece; Figures 3 and at are views similar to Figures 1 and 2, re spectively, showing springs disposed within the cup members; Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views taken on the sectional lines of Figures 1, E2 3 and 1, respec tively; Figure 9 is an ele-vational view of a self contained tuning peg; Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional view through the peg shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a substantially transverse sectional \ltfW taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 10; Figure 13 shows an elevational view of the fifth peg for a banjo and Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view of the same taken on the line 13-13 of the preceding figure; Figure 14 is a substantially longitudinal sectional view on the line 141et of Figure 12 and Figure 15 is a sectional view through the thumb piece on line l515 of Figure 14;; Figure 16 is a sectional view of a peg similar to Figure 12, showing a spring construction; Figure 17 is a plan vlewof the neck of an instrument showing the peg head provided with geared pegs; Figure 18 is a side elevational view of the pegs and parts of the neck of the instrument broken away; Figure 19 is a transverse sectional view of the gear casing and gears taken on the line 19-19 of Figure 20 which is a longitudinal sectional view talzcn on lino 2020 of Figure 17; and Figures 21 and are sectional views of a gear controlled peg showing a slightly modified form of construction.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, 10 denotes the shank of the peg which passes through the usual opening 11 in the peg head 1.2 of the instrument. The shank 10 has a conically shaped enlargement 13, which increases in diameter towards the top and is adapted to be driven axially into frictional engagement with the wall of the opening 11, the wall bein slight- 1y countersunk to conform more less to the contour of the enlargement 13. Beyond the portion 13 the peg is formed with an extension or string stud 1st having the usual hole 15 for receiving the end of the'string 16.

thereof to receive the screw 19 of a thumb button 20. Between the button 20 the under adjacentt'ace of the peg head 12 is disposed a cup shaped member 21, the cross sectional area of bore of the latter being substantially greater than the er ..:s sectional area of the square spindle 17 passing there through. The upper end the cup. is tapered to be i orced'against the wall of the opening 11. The opening through this tepered portion is sq] e to closelyembrace e 17, as clearly illustrated in p v urei that the ope in the thumb but ton 20 is square roe point well into the body of the button, 'emaining length of ithezopeningor bore eq: assembledytlie end of nus to 21 point short of opening and by further adjustment of th 1 l!) in the reduced portion of the opening thetspered surfaces Jeth the shnnl: and cupn ay bedrawn ton other and into. closer frictional ment with the peg head.

' "ed if-orm oiiFigures "2- and 6.,

th" sp ndle if, the end of squ the cup u'unber 21? is provided with a restricted square opening at its lower end adjacent the thumb button 20, and the opposite end e 9 .isPrQv ed wit a tapereden 22? of greater inelinationthan the similar surface 220i the cup member 21 shown in 1. in this construction the lower portion of the. open is slightly countersunk to establish a sui ace ageinst whichthe end m y be h D a y eng ged,

E se. s m l levieseed endand 8, are suo ant:

. i o th ame e hose shown in F gures 1 m d and 2 and (i respec- Livelya except that in both to ns the cup members 2;. and 21- are pr ed with increased bores yilS to receive cor spring-S between the restricted ends or the cup members and the adjacentsurface of the v thumb buttons 20. The springs 23 embrace the square spindles 17 and tend .to normallyforce the cup. members and tapered sur of the shank into closer contact wit walls of the openings in the peghea ds. The use of such spring members 23 is particularly essential where the wood in the peg head happens to be sligl ly green and later becomes dry and shrinks whereupon the peg becomes l osened it no means are providedto tillie up the play between the peg and the peg head, Therefore, by the use of the springs 23 the cup members are constantly urged against the peg head at one side while the shsnl: oi' the peg ispulled down rvardly to force the tapered portion 13. agz inst the wall oi the opening Such .yieldeble pressure drawingthe two parts together aga nst -ojt reduced diameter so.

ing flattened opposite surfaces toibeern;

f i e with ra ner-e in th embodiment of my invention shown in if' es Qto, 11 the open ng 11 111 the peg hesdis provided with zt'li'ning or sleeve 24, winch driven intov the opening, and which comprises a cylindrical member having a iien ed heed its upper end and an inar'dly beveled lower end indicated 26. T he sleeve or thimble Q l is prevented from tnr-n ing in the opcnin by means of a knp rled external band 27 disposed at the midportion thereof and adapted toflbite into the adjacent. surface of the opening. The tapered poi? tion or enlargement 13 of the shank .10.. seated in a similarly tapered countersunk opening disposed at the upperendoif the thimble imdterminsting in Ta shoulder 29 midway voi the length thereof and leading. to an enlarged bore 30 to receive one endo-t a coiled spring; 31. The lower ibeve edieml 26 ot' the thimb e project dew. through the opening '11 to rpoint w the plane of the under face of head and se ted ega nst thi beveletle 7 he opp i ly be eled edge'BZ f .4 Cup memb The cup) 3 loesely .e -uh ppo lower nd oi th se ies-31 whieh.

ets, ag ins the 'c osed end h f; end n y Ofthe p ng- .3 in il renge: night, as in the otl .i'oi ns oi -the invenlqion, is to constantly exert a downwardlydirected pressure against the cup which in turn trgii rsif'ers this pressure to 2 pullon the spindle 3:3 to bring the enlargement 13intqbon- I stsnt contact with the wall of the opening I' prac ica .ad antag Qt thi on t-shit n ruc i n in t t c the the l es we be a semble n epen. nth ettb peg head of the instrtnnen-t.

In gur 12 5;v I he sh we y n: vention embodied in a sosenlled t ting p g d w th s e io stru ent-the hirsble 36; in this, case be eqt e rsdi nd ere vided with a l nurled external snrfnoe 3?,

The thimble 36 is driven-intp e tapered p n n i he pee. h d. 12?, it f preventedfor turnin The shank 8m his -e in carr fifiereund; pindl braced by opening-sot similer cross section disposedin a thumb. butttm2 0 and ens d etw en th .butte an he under adjacent surf ceo f the ta pe ble 36. The tapered upper end .1 e p Shank is at d aga n t th wal i i te m tersunl-z tapered opening inthe upper ole; vationoif thethimbleBG. The thiinbl'e ills.

41 coinciding axially with an opening 42 in the spindle 39 adapted to receive the string 43.

In Figure 16, the general construction resembles that shown in Figures 12 to 15, except that the adjacent elevations of the thumb button and thimbles are pro-- vided with enlarged bores 44 in which a coiled spring 45 is disposed, the purpose of the spring 45 being to draw the tapered enlargement at the ends of the shank into constant frictional engagement with the fixed thimble 36.

In the forms illustrated in Figures 17 to 22, the features of my invention are shown in combination with a geared peg with which the string stud may be turned more slowly than will the thumb button. Referring to the construction of the cup member shown particularly in Figure 20, it will be seen that the design and arrangement are similar to those shown and described in connection with Figures 4 and 8, the only difference being that the shank 10 is provided with an enlargement 46 terminating in a head 47 which seats in an opening cut in the upper surface of the peg head 12. Beyond the head 47, the peg formed with an extension 48. square in cross section and adapted to carry a. pinion 49 in mesh with an internal gear The gear 50 comprises an annular rack integral with a cup shaped member 51 having a marginal internal lower flange 52 which underlies and is guided by an upturned flange of a fixed circular plate 54. The plate 54 is attached to the peg head 12 and is provided with an opening through which the part 48 projects. The cup member 51 besides being riveted to the internal gear 50 is provided with a center opening in which is mounted the string stud 55, the latter being slightly tapered outwardly towards the top.

In the modification shown in Figures 21 and 22, the construction and arrangement of the gearing and string stud are slightly changed. T ie arrangement comprises a pinion 49 carried by the square extension 48, the pinion being held in mesh with a gear 56 which in turn is loosely disposed in a fixed casing 57 embracing both gears, and which carries a string stud The stud 55- projects through an opening in the top wall of the casing 57, and is provided with a bearing collar which bears in the said opening to support the-stud in upright position. The casing 57 is provided with an open lower side whichcarries a marginal strip held beneath a flange 58 of a plate 59 secured to the peg head.

In each form the tuning peg has the characteristic tapered enlargement in the shank portion, the tapered portion being disposed against a similarly shaped opening elther in the peg head itself or in a fixed thimble carried by the peg head. The general operation throughout the invention is intended to pull the tapered enlargement of the shank either directly or yieldably and axially against a fixed element and by the sheer frictional engagement of the two parts the spindle carrying the string stud is prevented from turning by the weight of the tensioned string wound thereabout.

It has been found in banjo construction in particular that the wire strings employed are very sensitive and are more or less di1'fi cult to tune to accurate pitch by means of the ordinary pegs. This is due, as previously pointed out, to the ratio of movement between the thumb button and the attaching end of the string. By means of the present construction, as disclosed in Figures 17 to 22, the pinion is locked by the tapered shank and in turn the driven gear is likewise locked in any position.

The advantage of tapering the string stud 55 in Figure 20 is apparent when it is explained that as the stud is rotated the string will naturally wind up first about the smallest portion of the stud, an operation which will give still finer adjustment of pitch than otherwise possible with the uniform parallel walls of the other studs.

Having described my invention what 1 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a tuning peg for stringed musical instruments, the combination of a driving shank and an oppositely disposed driven shank, said shanks extending in opposite directions in parallel planes and being offset axially with respect to each other, and a gear train operating the driven shank from the driving shank.

A geared tuning peg for stringed musical instruments comprising two rotary shanks in opposite directions lcl planes, a pinion for one shank, and a gear tor the other shank in mesh with said pinion.

3. A geared tuning peg for stringed musical instruments, comprising two rotary shanks one thereof for the string and the other for thumb adjustment, said snanl-ts extending in opposite directions and in parallel planes, a pinion gear for the thumb shank, a relatively large gear for the string shank in mesh with the pinion, and friction means for maintaining the gears in mesh.

4. A geared tuning peg for stringed musical instruments, comprising a rotary shank adapted to receive a string. a gear wheel carried by said shank, a rwcond rotary shank extending in opposite directions and in a plane parallel with that in which the first mentioned shank extends, said second shank carrying a thumb piece, a gear wheel carried by said second shank and meshing with the gear wheel of the first shank, and a spring Hill and in paralcoiled about the second shank and operefing to urge the second shank axially to force engagement of the gear Wheel against a fixed portion of the tuning peg.

5. A geared tuning peg for stringed mnsical instruments, comprisingtwo rotary shanks extending in opposite (lireetions and in parallel planes, one thereof for the string and the other foi fl-nn'nb adjustment, a pinion for one shank, and an internally toothed gee ring-the teeth of which mesh with said pinion.

6. In a tuning peg for stringed musieai instruments, the combination of shankniein- ALBERT D. GBOVER. 

